How to Get a Gel Nail Polish Mani- Pedi at Home

The official start date for Summer 2017 is June 21st and I can’t wait… I am looking forward to sundresses, shorts and all the fun clothing possibilities that come along with the summer weather!

Of course one of the very first things I wasn’t waiting to have ready for summer are my hands, as I quite often let life and “mother duty” get in the way and my hands get neglected. But I am making an effort to change that and to keep my hands not only hydrated, but also manicured, at least as much as possible…Yep, I’m talking about the mommy duty again!

How do you get nice looking hands for summer?

It is actually easier than you think. Hydration is vital and you should try to keep your hands properly hydrated year around.

The next step would be taking care of your nails, (always a good idea to use a cuticle cream).

I love having my nails painted as they can complement any outfit you are wearing and let’s be honest, nice, painted nails just look good. I prefer the gel nail polish just because it tends to last longer and resists chips more than regular nail polish.

Get organized

In order to make the best out of your do it yourself manicure experience, the very first thing you need to do, is gather all the materials you are going to use and select the best spot for you to sit down and start with the process.

Once you are all set and ready to start, wash your hands and dry them thoroughly. Then use the slanted side of a manicure stick to gently push back your cuticles. There are two reasons to do this, one: you will get a cleaner surface for the gel to stick and 2: you create an even longer nail to work on.

I have very thin easy to push cuticles, but I know that this is not the case for a lot of people, so if you have hard to push cuticles, simply soak then in warm water for a few minutes and then push the softer cuticles back.

The right shape for you

There are many different ways to style your nails, some of the more popular methods are square shape which is how I do mine, but you also have the round / oval shape, the squoval and the pointy stiletto nail that is trending right now.

Once you have figured out the best shape for your nails, file the edges to create the desired style. After filling the nails, you should buff the nail surface with the pink side of your buffer while always being careful not overdo it to avoid weakening your nails.

Once the buffing is done, your nails will look a bit dull as this process removes the shine and helps the polish to adhere better. Pay special attention to the sides of the nails and around the cuticle as these are the most common spots where lifting tends to occur.

At this point, you might need to wash your hands one more time, to remove the thin dust from buffing your nails.
The next step is to start working on your hands. I find that it is easier if I do 4 fingers, then the other 4 fingers, and leave the thumbs for last.

Use a lint free wipe to clean your nails using some gel cleanser and let it dry for about 15 seconds.

You are ready to apply the color

You are now ready to start applying the color you have selected…I fell in love with the MelodySusie’s Sweet Reverie which is an easy to apply one- step gel nail polish.

The set has 6 different pastel color polishes that are just perfect for summer.

Make sure to shake the gel nail polish before you start with the application. Then apply a thin even layer and then cure the gel nail polish using an LED or UV lamp. Make sure you know the correct cure time for your gel nail polish as it is not the same for all brands.

For the MelodySusie gel nail polish, I set my lamp to 15 seconds. Depending on how you like the depth of your gel nail polish, you can use anything between 1- 3 coats.

You need to make sure to cure each coat and keep in mind that the same way not all the gel nail polish works the same, the lamps are also different. I use a MelodySusie 24W LED Nail Lamp which eliminates the guess work.

Once you have applied all layers, use a clean lint free wipe and some gel cleanser and wipe each one of your nails to remove the sticky moisture layer. Some of the color might come off, but do not freak out, that is normal and will not affect your final result.

If you decide you want to be a total rock star and have your pedicure done, do the same process on your feet and do one foot at the time!

Win it:
Ready to get beautiful nails for the summer? MelodySusie has kindly offered one lucky Jen’s Fun Finds reader the chance to win a free set of their Sweet Reverie!

Please use the Giveaway Tools form for ALL entries. Except for the initial comment. Please leave comments containing 2-3 sentences in order to qualify- Comments like I like this or I want to win will not count! Contest open to the US residents with a valid street address. No PO Boxes please. This contest is void where prohibited. Winner(s) are selected randomly through the use Giveaway Tools unless otherwise noted and will be announce on the contest closing date. To claim your prize(s), you must contact Born 2 Impress within 48 hours of the contest closing Prize(s) not claimed by (48 hours) will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

Please provide a valid email address to be informed in case you do win a giveaway. Please note ALL entries are checked for accuracy and will be validated. Clicking on “enter” ensures that your task has been completed. If your task has not been completed, your entry will not be counted and will be considered invalid. If you are chosen as the winner of this contest and you have not completed the task(s) that you claim to complete, a new winner will be randomly chosen. So please be sure that you have completed a task before clicking “enter”thank you for your co-operation.

Disclosure:

The product(s) provided for the review were sent to me free of charge from the company or the PR agency. I did not receive any compensation for this review. The product(s) offered for the giveaway are free of charge, no purchase necessary. My opinions are my own and not by any means influenced by any other part. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

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Comments

I do my own nails, but the polish never seems to last. I’ve never had a gel mani or pedi, but I know they last a long time. How awesome! Another product of theirs that I’d love to try is the 192 Needles Medical Grade Stainless Steel Derma Roller. I’ve heard so much about mico-needling, and my skin could sure use it!

I would like to try the Hanging Waterproof ToiletryBag(Elegant Rosy). It would be really nice to use when travelling. I do my own nails. I use light pinks so I’m really loving the shades in your giveaway – they’re very pretty.

I mostly do my own nails very occasionally do have them done for special events. I love the colors in the Macaron collection, they’re great for spring/summer. Their makeup organizers look really useful too.

I would like to try the dark brown wig because I recently bleche my hair and I hate the way the color appeared. So I would be open to wearing a wig until my roots grow back. I dont do my own nails I leave them to a nail technician

This looks like great polish. I have never tried to do the jail polish that myself. I have always had it done at a shop. This looks like it would be pretty easy. Definitely I am interested in giving a try . I also really like the Party Queen 1 Step Color Gel. I love all the colors

I always do my own nails at home and I would really love to get the Pro 48W Nail Dryer! I never seem to have enough patience to wait for my nails to fully dry naturally before I start doing things around the house. Of course we all know how that ends up, I think the nail dryer would probably save me a lot of frustration!

I like the organizers that they have on their site. We all know how our makeup and nail polish collections look….mine could definitely use some organization. I actually do my nails at home and at the salon!

I would love to try the MelodySusie 36W UV Nail Dryer – UV Lamp Light for Any UV Gel Polish, with Sliding Tray and Timmer Setting, 4 x 9W UV Lamp(Extra 1 Bulb) – Black. To dry my nails faster would be a great convenience. I do my own nails. I do an okay job but could use some help with great products.

I would love to try the
‹VIOLETA PRO60W Smart UV/LED Lamp Nail Dryer. I do my own nails most of the time because the cost of a professional manicure is more than my budget can afford. It takes so long for my nails to dry that I usually smear ;them before they are dry and then I either have to start over or try to cover it up, so the nail dryer would solve a lot of problems for me.

The silicone makeup blenders are something I would try. I worry that my current makeup sponges can harbor nasties. They can be so difficult to clean. No, I rarely do my own nails. I would like to have the talent to do them at home at yet have professional looking results.

Many manicure enthusiasts are complaining about UV light, even switching to a different type of manicure just to avoid UV exposure. That’s a shame because gel polishes are less invasive to nails than acrylics. That problem can easily be solved with protective gloves such as those on the last photo. I suppose it’s a part of a set or it can be easily purchased in the same store/website with gel polish or lamp.